HEBBURN TOWN 1 WHITLEY BAY 2
Tuesday 10th December
Whitley produced arguably their best performance of the season when they defeated title hopefuls Hebburn Town on a windy night on South Tyneside. What was in no doubt at all was the satisfaction that the victory gave to Whitley and their fans after suffering three defeats at the hands of the Hornets earlier in the season.
There were serious doubts as to whether the game would go ahead when some of the floodlights failed during the pre-match warm up but after the ground was plunged into darkness barely 15 minutes before the scheduled kick off time, the lights eventually came back on and the game got underway 25 minutes late.
It was a landmark occasion for Bay stalwart Callum Anderson who made his 350th appearance yet is still only 28 years old. The two time FA Vase winner certainly played his part in a memorable victory, helping to blunt the attack of the league’s most prolific goalscorers.
Playing against the wind in the first half, Whitley had the greater share of possession without ever really threatening Hebburn’s debutant keeper Mark Foden, who spent much of the half shouting instructions to his team mates. Hebburn went close after six minutes when a corner was scrambled away from danger then Lister comfortably saved from Richardson in the 12th minute. Whitley’s first attempt came three minutes later but James Martin put his shot over the bar. Moments later Jake Martindale sent a low shot across goal but just beyond the far post. A 26th minute long range shot from Carson was pushed wide by Lister who comfortably gathered the resultant corner kick then when Whitley broke forward, Mark Robinson was tugged back with the McKeown fortunate to escape a caution.
Disciplined defending had been proving effective in stifling the home attack but Hebburn took the lead in the 34th minute when a cross from the right by Richardson was not cut out leaving Graeme Armstrong able to divert the ball beyond Lister and into the far corner of the net. Four minutes later the hosts went close to extending their lead with a header that flew over the bar following a corner.
After the interval and with the elements now in their favour, Whitley were quickly on the attack but the move was ended when Michael Colquhoun was caught just offside. Colquhoun was involved again in the 52nd minute and this time to crucial effect as he got in a shot that Foden could only push away and Lewis Orrell seized on the loose ball to drive it into an open goal. It was the young midfielder’s third goal in the last two games and brought Whitley back on terms.
Seven minutes later Foden punched clear from a left wing corner but when the ball dropped for Lee Kerr he powered in a great shot that crashed off the underside of the bar but fortunately for the home side it bounced down into the hands of the keeper lying on the goal line.
Colquhoun was causing problems for the Hornets defenders with his pace and in the 68th minute he managed to get in a shot that Foden blocked. The keeper cleared the ball as far as Darren Lough whose poor control on the edge of the box conceded possession to Brad Hird who seized his chance and his tremendous shot bulged the top corner of the net with the former Blyth Spartans keeper helpless.
Having fallen behind, Hebburn’s confidence dropped and for a time they seemed devoid of ideas, adopting a direct approach with passes going astray and shots failing to find the target. Whitley continued to press forward and Kerr’s free kick saw Foden save from Taylor’s header.
In the final ten minutes the home side pushed more men forward and it took a fine save from Lister to keep out a free kick from Dibb-Fuller. As the pressure built up, Spence headed over the bar from a corner. Into stoppage time, it took a magnificent one handed diving save from Lister to keep out another effort from Spence that seemed destined for the top corner of the net. Whitley were defending resolutely but Hebburn were not giving up and a shot from Dibb-Fuller skimmed the top of the bar.
Deep into added time, a foul near the halfway line earned substitute James Proctor a caution but in the aftermath of the incident arms were raised and the young midfielder was sent off.
It was the only sour moment in an enthralling and exciting game in which Whitley deservedly emerged with three points after a great team performance with contributions coming from the whole squad.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Smith, Martin, Anderson, Taylor, Lowery, Orrell(Bexton 72mins), Kerr, Colquhoun(Proctor 83mins), Robinson, Martindale(Hird 62mins)
Substitutes not used: Davison, Salmon
Caution: Sent off: Proctor
Referee: James Bancroft
Attendance: 217
